A fitting word for Thanksgiving…

The historic Heidelberg Catechism asks one of the most honest questions in all theological discourse about the nature of obedience: “Since we are redeemed from our sin and its consequences by grace through Christ without any merit of our own, why must we do good works?” The paraphrase is simply, “If salvation is because of grace, why be good?” The answer is: “So that with our whole life we may show ourselves grateful to God for his goodness and that he may be glorified through us.” We offer service to God not to gain his affection but in loving thankfulness for his affection. The rewards that he grants—and that we may properly desire—in response to our obedience do not annul our chief desire to please him in response to his mercy. Such blessing would actually be empty of true satisfaction for Christians if the main purpose of their pursuit were pleasure. The Spirit makes our greatest pleasure what delights the Lord we love, and we cannot find deep joy in what fails to put his honor and glory first (Pss. 1:2; 37:4; 43:4; 119:35).